Small girls escape Chico house fire

CHICO — Two small girls, reportedly ages 8 and 9, safely escaped a house fire that was reported at 2:19 a.m. Friday at 121 York Drive.

The fire was reported by a neighbor after the girls knocked on his door, said Chico fire inspector Marie Fickert. When the neighbor opened the door he saw the girls running toward their home and they told him their house was on fire.

Allegedly nobody but the two girls were home at the time of the blaze, however the children were unaware of that. The girls were worried their mother was inside, Fickert said.

The 8-year-old discovered the fire and saw smoke, Fickert said. She yelled for her mother and then went outside to the garage to find her sister.

According to fire officials, one of the two girls was sleeping in a vehicle outside of the house when the blaze was discovered.

Chico Fire Capt. Chris Zinko with Engine 6, the first unit to arrive, said the girls were convinced their mother was in the house.

Zinko's crew, who were joined by the firefighters from Engine 2, searched the house thoroughly twice and found no one in the structure, Fickert said.

There was heavy smoke and fire in the house when the firefighters arrived.

Engines from Cal Fire-Butte County were also called to the blaze.

The fire was knocked down at 2:49 a.m.

Fickert said the kitchen and the living room were heavily damaged by the fire and an investigation as to the cause is still ongoing.

York Drive is off Greenwich Drive, between West Eighth and West 11th avenues